If you live in a two-story home, a Cape Cod, or a Colonial, you have likely experienced a hot second floor during summer. The upper level can run 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the floor below, making bedrooms uncomfortable and living spaces nearly unusable. This temperature difference is especially common in regions like […]
Humans are remarkably good at sensing temperature. Most building professionals can guess the air temperature in a room within a few degrees Fahrenheit without looking at a thermostat. But when it comes to humidity, the same professionals often miss the mark by a wide margin. Understanding and measuring the moisture content of air is far
Thermal imaging has become one of the most valuable diagnostic tools available to builders, energy raters, and homeowners seeking to understand how their buildings actually perform. As Randy Williams, an energy rater with over a decade of field experience, notes in his article on Green Building Advisor, infrared cameras are among the most-used tools in
Building a home that performs well in a world of rising energy costs requires thinking beyond code-minimum walls. Standard 2×6 framed walls with fiberglass batt insulation deliver around R-20, but progressive builders and designers now target R-40 or better for the wall assembly. This higher insulation value, combined with rigorous airtightness and careful moisture management,
Modern kitchens come equipped with appliances that promise convenience, and few features sound as appealing as an oven that cleans itself. Self-cleaning ovens have been a standard offering in many ranges for decades, yet homeowners rarely understand what the process involves or what it costs to operate. The self-cleaning cycle heats the oven cavity to
Duct boots are the metal fittings at each register or diffuser that connect the ductwork to the room. When a central air conditioning system runs during hot and humid weather, these boots often become cold enough to cause water vapor in the surrounding air to condense on their surfaces. The result can look like rain
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Train the Trainer program represents a significant investment in construction education, equipping instructors with the knowledge to teach building science principles effectively. One of the most valuable segments within this training curriculum is the Tools of the Trade hands-on demonstration, which focuses on the diagnostic instruments and measurement
Coastal real estate markets across the United States face a growing disconnect: home buyers continue purchasing properties in flood-prone areas despite mounting evidence of rising sea levels and increasing storm surge risks. A survey of 680 licensed Florida Realtors conducted in late 2020 revealed that 45 percent of agents saw no impact whatsoever on property
Choosing heating and cooling equipment for a new home or a major renovation used to be straightforward. Homeowners called a contractor, received a price, and trusted the installer to deliver a system that worked. Those days are gone. Modern residential construction demands a more rigorous approach rooted in building science. Understanding the three core ACCA
The COVID-19 pandemic delivered an unprecedented shock to the construction industry, disrupting operations across the United States and altering the trajectory of building activity for years to come. Between the spring of 2020 and the months that followed, contractors, trade unions, and policymakers grappled with a cascade of challenges that tested the sector’s resilience. Construction
